Fahreza Rizky, Jakarta – Vice President Ma'ruf Amin has admitted to proposing that places of worship not be closed during the emergency Enforcement of Restrictions on Public Activities (PPKM). The proposal was made based on the wishes of ulama (Islamic leaders) and religious figures.
As a result, under Interior Affairs Ministerial Instruction (Inmendagri) Number 19/2021 there is nothing said about closing places of worship. Nevertheless, the government is appealing to people not to hold religious activities.
"Praise be to Allah I have endeavored [to ensure this], because there has been a lot of protests for them not to be closed, under the new regulation it states that we will no longer close mosques, but what there is is just a prohibition against gatherings", said Amin during a virtual meeting with ulama and Islamic religious figures on Monday July 12.
In addition to this, Amin also passed on the wish that for the moment wedding receptions not be held during the emergency PPKM. Under the previous rules receptions were still allowed under the condition that a maximum of 30 people attend. As a result of the new Inmendagri, wedding receptions are temporarily prohibited.
"Aside from this also, before a total of 30 people were allowed at a reception, so now there will be no receptions, none at all, congregational prayers weren't allowed but wedding receptions were allowed, because of that receptions aren't allowed", he said.
"So this is in accordance with the kiai's [Islamic teacher] demands, what's not allowed is assemblies, (such as congregational prayers like) Rawatib [non-obligatory prayers], Friday prayers, Id (Idul Adha) [Islamic Day of Sacrifice prayers], not just inside but outside, until the situation makes it possible again because this is a danger we must avoid", added Amin.
Earlier, Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian issued Inmendagri Number 19/2021 on Revisions to Three Inmendagri on the Emergency PPKM in Java and Bali.
Under the instruction, the government will no longer close places of worship during the emergency PPKM as was the case before. Nevertheless, the government is appealing to all places of worship not to hold religious activities during the emergency PPKM.
"And optimise worshiping at home", reads one of the excerpts from the instruction seen in a copy of the document.
Under the latest rules meanwhile, wedding receptions are not allowed. Under the previous regulation receptions were allowed but limited to a maximum of 30 people.
"Wedding receptions shall not be held during the enforcement of the emergency PPKM", it reads. (kha)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Ternyata Wapres Ma'ruf Amin yang Usulkan Rumah Ibadah Tak Ditutup Selama PPKM Darurat".]
